Shloka 17.1: arjuna uvācha | ye śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya yajante śhraddhayānvitāḥ | teṣhāṁ niṣhṭhā tu kā kṛiṣhṇa sattvam āho rajas tamaḥ || 17.1 ||

English:  Arjuna said: O Krishna, what is the state of those who, setting aside the injunctions of the scriptures, perform worship with faith? Is it in goodness (sattva), passion (rajas), or ignorance (tamas)?

Hindi:  अर्जुन ने कहा: हे कृष्ण, जो लोग शास्त्रों के आदेशों को त्यागकर श्रद्धा के साथ पूजा करते हैं, उनकी स्थिति कैसी होती है? क्या वह सत्वगुण, रजोगुण या तमोगुण में है?

 

Shloka 17.2: śhrī-bhagavān uvācha | tri-vidhā bhavati śhraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāva-jā | sāttvikī rājasī chaiva tāmasī cheti tāṁ śhṛiṇu || 17.2 ||

English:  The Blessed Lord said: The faith of the embodied beings is of three kinds, born of their own nature—goodness (sattvikī), passion (rājasī), and ignorance (tāmasī). Now hear about this from Me.

Hindi:  भगवान ने कहा: देहधारी प्राणियों की श्रद्धा तीन प्रकार की होती है, जो उनके स्वभाव से उत्पन्न होती है—सात्विक, राजसिक, और तामसिक। अब मुझसे इसके बारे में सुनो।

 

Shloka 17.3: sattvānurūpā sarvasya śhraddhā bhavati bhārata | śhraddhā-mayo ’yaṁ puruṣho yo yach-chhraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ || 17.3 ||

English:  O Bharata (Arjuna), according to one's own nature, each living being has a particular kind of faith. A person is said to be of that nature, as is their faith.

Hindi:  हे भारत (अर्जुन), प्रत्येक व्यक्ति की श्रद्धा उसके स्वभाव के अनुसार होती है। जो जैसी श्रद्धा रखता है, वह वैसा ही होता है।

 

Shloka 17.4: yajante sāttvikā devān yakṣha-rakṣhāṁsi rājasāḥ | pretān bhūta-gaṇāṁśh chānye yajante tāmasā janāḥ || 17.4 ||

English:  Those in goodness worship the gods; those in passion worship demigods and demons; and those in ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.

Hindi:  सात्विक लोग देवताओं की पूजा करते हैं; राजसिक लोग यक्षों और राक्षसों की पूजा करते हैं; और तामसिक लोग प्रेतों और भूत-प्रेतों की पूजा करते हैं।

 

Shloka 17.5-17.6: aśhāstra-vihitaṁ ghoraṁ tapyante ye tapo janāḥ | dambhāhaṅkāra-saṁyuktāḥ kāma-rāga-balānvitāḥ || 17.5 ||

karṣhayantaḥ śharīra-sthaṁ bhūta-grāmam achetasaḥ | māṁ chaivāntaḥ śharīra-sthaṁ tān viddhy āsura-niśhchayān || 17.6 ||

English:  Those who undergo severe austerities not recommended by the scriptures, performing them out of pride and egoism, impelled by the force of desires and attachments, and who torture the elements in their bodies and also Me, who dwells within them—know these to have a demoniac resolve.

Hindi:  जो लोग शास्त्रों द्वारा अनुशंसित न किए गए कठोर तप करते हैं, उन्हें दंभ और अहंकार से प्रेरित होकर, इच्छाओं और आसक्तियों के बल से प्रेरित होकर अपने शरीर के तत्वों को और मुझको भी जो उनके भीतर स्थित हूँ, कष्ट देते हैं—उन्हें आसुरी निश्चय वाला समझो।

 

Shloka 17.7: āhāras tv api sarvasya tri-vidho bhavati priyaḥ | yajñas tapas tathā dānaṁ teṣhāṁ bhedam imaṁ śhṛiṇu || 17.7 ||

English:  The food that one prefers is also of three kinds, as are sacrifices, austerities, and charity. Now hear of the distinctions between them.

Hindi:  जो भोजन किसी को प्रिय होता है, वह भी तीन प्रकार का होता है, जैसे यज्ञ, तप, और दान भी। अब इनके भेदों को सुनो।

 

Shloka 17.8: āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ | rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛidyā āhārāḥ sāttvika-priyāḥ || 17.8 ||

English:  Foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, joy, and cheerfulness, which are juicy, nourishing, and pleasing to the heart, are dear to those in the mode of goodness.

Hindi:  जो भोजन आयु, शुद्धता, बल, स्वास्थ्य, सुख, और प्रसन्नता को बढ़ाते हैं, जो रसयुक्त, पोषक, और हृदय को प्रिय होते हैं, वे सात्विक लोगों को प्रिय होते हैं।

 

Shloka 17.9: kaṭv-amla-lavaṇāty-uṣhṇa-tīkṣhṇa-rūkṣha-vidāhinaḥ | āhārā rājasasyeṣhṭā duḥkha-śhokāmaya-pradāḥ || 17.9 ||

English:  Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry, and burning, which cause pain, grief, and disease, are dear to those in the mode of passion.

Hindi:  जो भोजन कड़वे, खट्टे, नमकीन, बहुत गर्म, तीखे, रूखे, और जलन पैदा करने वाले होते हैं, जो दुःख, शोक, और रोग उत्पन्न करते हैं, वे राजसिक लोगों को प्रिय होते हैं।

 

Shloka 17.10: yāta-yāmaṁ gata-rasaṁ pūti paryuṣhitaṁ cha yat | uchchiṣhṭam api chāmedhyaṁ bhojanaṁ tāmasa-priyam || 17.10 ||

English:  Foods that are stale, tasteless, putrid, decomposed, and unclean, including food that has been left over and is impure, are dear to those in the mode of ignorance.

Hindi:  जो भोजन बासी, स्वादहीन, सड़ा-गला, खराब, और अशुद्ध होता है, जिसमें बचा हुआ और अपवित्र भोजन भी शामिल है, वह तामसिक लोगों को प्रिय होता है।

 

Shloka 17.11: aphalāṅkṣhibhir yajño vidhī-dṛiṣhṭo ya ijyate | yaṣhṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ || 17.11 ||

English:  The sacrifice performed according to scriptural injunctions, without expectation of reward, with the mind focused on the duty of sacrifice, is in the mode of goodness.

Hindi:  जो यज्ञ शास्त्रों के अनुसार किया जाता है, बिना किसी फल की इच्छा के, और जिसमें मन को केवल यज्ञ की कर्तव्य भावना में स्थिर किया जाता है, वह सात्विक होता है।

 

Shloka 17.12: abhisandhāya tu phalaṁ dambhārtham api chaiva yat | ijyate bharata-śhreṣhṭha taṁ yajñaṁ viddhi rājasam || 17.12 ||

English:  But the sacrifice performed with an expectation of reward, or for the sake of show, O best of the Bharatas, know that such a sacrifice is in the mode of passion.

Hindi:  परंतु जो यज्ञ फल की इच्छा से या दिखावे के लिए किया जाता है, हे भरतश्रेष्ठ, उसे राजसिक जानो।

 

Shloka 17.13: vidhi-hīnam asṛiṣhṭānnaṁ mantra-hīnam adakṣhiṇam | śhraddhā-virahitaṁ yajñaṁ tāmasaṁ parichakṣhate || 17.13 ||

English:  The sacrifice which is devoid of scriptural regulations, without distribution of food, without recitation of hymns, without gifts to the priests, and without faith, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

Hindi:  जो यज्ञ शास्त्रों के नियमों के बिना, भोजन के वितरण के बिना, मंत्रों के उच्चारण के बिना, दक्षिणा के बिना, और श्रद्धा के बिना किया जाता है, उसे तामसिक कहा जाता है।

 

Shloka 17.14: deva-dvija-guru-prājña-pūjanaṁ śhaucham ārjavam | brahmacharyam ahiṁsā cha śhārīraṁ tapa uchyate || 17.14 ||

English:  Worship of the gods, the brahmins, the teachers, and the wise, cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy, and non-violence—these are said to be the austerities of the body.

Hindi:  देवताओं, ब्राह्मणों, गुरुओं, और विद्वानों की पूजा, शुद्धता, सरलता, ब्रह्मचर्य, और अहिंसा—इन्हें शरीर के तप कहा जाता है।

 

Shloka 17.15: anudvega-karaṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ cha yat | svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ chaiva vāṅ-mayaṁ tapa uchyate || 17.15 ||

English:  Speech that is non-offensive, truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, and the practice of reciting scriptures—these are said to be the austerities of speech.

Hindi:  जो कथन अन्य को उद्वेलित न करने वाला, सत्य, प्रिय, और हितकारी हो, और शास्त्रों के अध्ययन का अभ्यास हो—इन्हें वाणी के तप कहा जाता है।

 

Shloka 17.16: manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ | bhāva-saṁśhuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam uchyate || 17.16 ||

English:  Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of thoughts—these are called the austerities of the mind.

Hindi:  मन की प्रसन्नता, कोमलता, मौन, आत्म-संयम, और विचारों की शुद्धता—इन्हें मन का तप कहा जाता है।

 

Shloka 17.17: śhraddhayā parayā taptaṁ tapas tat tri-vidhaṁ naraiḥ | aphalākāṅkṣhibhir yuktaiḥ sāttvikaṁ parichakṣhate || 17.17 ||

English:  This threefold austerity, performed with supreme faith by those without expectation of reward, is said to be in the mode of goodness.

Hindi:  जो यह तीन प्रकार का तप उच्चतम श्रद्धा के साथ और फल की इच्छा के बिना किया जाता है, उसे सात्विक कहा जाता है।

 

Shloka 17.18: satkāra-māna-pūjārthaṁ tapo dambhena chaiva yat | kriyate tad iha proktaṁ rājasaṁ chalam adhruvam || 17.18 ||

English:  The austerities that are performed for the sake of gaining respect, honor, and reverence, out of ostentation, are said to be in the mode of passion. They are unstable and temporary.

Hindi:  जो तप सम्मान, मान, और पूजा प्राप्त करने के लिए या दिखावे के लिए किया जाता है, उसे राजसिक कहा जाता है। वह अस्थिर और अस्थायी होता है।

 

Shloka 17.19: mūḍha-grāheṇātmano yat pīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ | parasyotsādanārthaṁ vā tat tāmasam udāhṛitam || 17.19 ||

English:  The austerity which is performed with foolish obstinacy, or with self-torture, or for the purpose of harming others, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

Hindi:  जो तप मूर्खतापूर्ण हठ से, स्वयं को कष्ट देने के लिए या दूसरों को कष्ट पहुँचाने के उद्देश्य से किया जाता है, उसे तामसिक कहा जाता है।

 

Shloka 17.20: dātavyam iti yad dānaṁ dīyate ’nupakāriṇe | deśhe kāle cha pātre cha tad dānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛitam || 17.20 ||

English:  Charity given as a duty, to a worthy recipient, at the right time and place, without expectation of anything in return, is considered to be in the mode of goodness.

Hindi:  जो दान कर्तव्य समझकर, योग्य पात्र को, उचित समय और स्थान पर, बिना किसी प्रतिफल की इच्छा के दिया जाता है, उसे सात्विक कहा जाता है।

 

Shloka 17.21: yat tu prattyupakārārthaṁ phalam uddiśhya vā punaḥ | dīyate cha parikliṣhṭaṁ tad dānaṁ rājasaṁ smṛitam || 17.21 ||

English:  But charity given with expectation of some return, or with the hope of gaining some reward, or grudgingly, is said to be in the mode of passion.

Hindi:  जो दान किसी प्रतिदान की इच्छा से, फल की आशा से, या मन में संकोच के साथ दिया जाता है, उसे राजसिक कहा जाता है।

 

Shloka 17.22: adeśha-kāle yad dānam apātrebhyaśh cha dīyate | asat-kṛitam avajñātaṁ tat tāmasam udāhṛitam || 17.22 ||

English:  And charity given at the wrong time and place, to an unworthy person, without proper respect or with contempt, is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

Hindi:  जो दान अवसर के प्रतिकूल, अयोग्य व्यक्ति को, असम्मान के साथ या अपमान की भावना से दिया जाता है, उसे तामसिक कहा जाता है।

 

 

Shloka 17.23: om tat sad iti nirdeśho brahmaṇas tri-vidhaḥ smṛitaḥ | brāhmaṇās tena vedāśhcha yajñāśhcha vihitāḥ purā || 17.23 ||

English:  The words "Om Tat Sat" have been declared as symbolic representations of the Supreme Absolute Truth. In the past, the Brahmins, the Vedas, and sacrifices were created through these three words.

Hindi:  "ॐ तत् सत्" ये तीन शब्द परम सत्य का प्रतीक माने गए हैं। इन्हीं शब्दों से अतीत में ब्राह्मणों, वेदों, और यज्ञों की रचना की गई थी।

 

Shloka 17.24: tasmād om ity udāhṛitya yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ | pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṁ brahma-vādinām || 17.24 ||

English:  Therefore, acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity as enjoined in the scriptures are always begun with the utterance of "Om" by those who follow the Vedic tradition.

Hindi:  इसलिए, जो लोग वेदों के मार्ग का पालन करते हैं, वे शास्त्रों द्वारा निर्धारित यज्ञ, दान, और तप को हमेशा "ॐ" कहकर प्रारंभ करते हैं।

 

Shloka 17.25: tad ity anabhisandhāya phalaṁ yajña-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ | dāna-kriyāśh cha vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣha-kāṅkṣhibhiḥ || 17.25 ||

English:  Without desiring any reward, the word "Tat" is used by seekers of liberation while performing various acts of sacrifice, austerity, and charity.

Hindi:  मोक्ष की इच्छा रखने वाले साधक फल की इच्छा किए बिना यज्ञ, तप, और दान जैसे विभिन्न कार्यों को करते समय "तत्" शब्द का उपयोग करते हैं।

 

Shloka 17.26-17.27: sad-bhāve sādhu-bhāve cha sad ity etat prayujyate | praśhaste karmaṇi tathā sach-chhabdaḥ pārtha yujyate || 17.26 || yajñe tapasi dāne cha sthitiḥ sad iti chochyate | karmachaiva tad-arthīyaṁ sad ity evābhidhīyate || 17.27 ||

English:  The word "Sat" is used to denote eternal existence and goodness. O Partha, the word "Sat" is also used in the sense of an auspicious act. Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is called "Sat". Actions meant solely for the satisfaction of the Supreme are also called "Sat".

Hindi:  "सत्" शब्द का उपयोग शाश्वत अस्तित्व और शुभता को दर्शाने के लिए किया जाता है। हे पार्थ, "सत्" शब्द का उपयोग पवित्र कार्य के अर्थ में भी होता है। यज्ञ, तप, और दान में स्थिरता को भी "सत्" कहा जाता है। जो कर्म केवल परमात्मा की तृप्ति के लिए किए जाते हैं, उन्हें भी "सत्" कहा जाता है।

 

Shloka 17.28: āśhraddhayā hutaṁ dattaṁ tapas taptaṁ kṛitaṁ cha yat | asad ity uchyate pārtha na cha tat pretya no iha || 17.28 ||

English:  Whatever is done as sacrifice, charity, or austerity without faith is called "Asat", O Partha. It is of no value here or hereafter.

Hindi:  जो भी यज्ञ, दान, या तप श्रद्धा के बिना किया जाता है, उसे "असत्" कहा जाता है, हे पार्थ। उसका इस लोक या परलोक में कोई मूल्य नहीं होता।

 

Here is a Summary of Chapter 17:

 

Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita, titled ‘Śhraddhā-Traya-Vibhāga Yoga’ or "The Threefold Division of Faith", explores how different kinds of faith influence human behavior and spiritual progress. Krishna explains that faith is shaped by an individual's inherent nature and can be categorized into three types—Sattvic (goodness), Rajasic (passion), and Tamasic (ignorance). These distinctions affect the nature of worship, food preferences, austerities, and charity, ultimately determining one's spiritual evolution or downfall.

Three Types of Faith (Verses 1-6)

• Faith is an intrinsic part of every individual and is influenced by the gunas—the modes of material nature.
• Krishna categorizes faith into three types based on an individual's nature:
  • Sattvic (Goodness): Those with sattvic faith worship gods and exhibit devotion aligned with purity and righteousness.
  • Rajasic (Passion): Those with rajasic faith worship demigods, powerful beings, or entities that represent ambition and desire.
  • Tamasic (Ignorance): Those with tamasic faith worship ghosts and spirits, reflecting a lack of clarity and indulgence in darkness.

Types of Food, Sacrifice, Austerities, and Charity (Verses 7-22)

• Food Preferences:
  • Sattvic Food: Promotes life, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. It is juicy, nourishing, and pleasing.
  • Rajasic Food: Is bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, and causes pain, grief, and disease.
  • Tamasic Food: Is stale, tasteless, putrid, decomposed, and impure. It leads to a dulling of the senses and spiritual stagnation.
• Sacrifices (Yajña):
  • Sattvic Sacrifices: Performed with faith, in accordance with scriptural injunctions, and without expectation of reward.
  • Rajasic Sacrifices: Conducted for show or for personal gain, often with a desire for recognition or benefits.
  • Tamasic Sacrifices: Performed without regard for scriptural guidelines, without faith, and often in a careless manner.
• Austerities (Tapas):
  • Austerities of the Body: Include worship of gods, brahmins, teachers, and wise individuals, as well as practicing cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy, and non-violence.
  • Austerities of Speech: Involve speaking truthfully, pleasantly, and beneficially, and avoiding speech that offends. It also includes the recitation of scriptures.
  • Austerities of the Mind: Include serenity, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of thoughts.
  • Sattvic Austerities: Performed with faith and without selfish motives, leading to spiritual growth.
  • Rajasic Austerities: Performed for gaining respect, honor, or reverence and are unstable and temporary.
  • Tamasic Austerities: Involve self-torture or are performed to harm others, reflecting ignorance and misunderstanding.
• Charity (Dāna):
  • Sattvic Charity: Given as a duty, to a worthy recipient, at the right time and place, without expecting anything in return.
  • Rajasic Charity: Given with the hope of return or recognition, often with an expectation of some reward.
  • Tamasic Charity: Given without respect, to an unworthy person, or at an improper time and place, often accompanied by contempt.

The Significance of "Om Tat Sat" (Verses 23-28)

• Krishna explains that the words "Om Tat Sat" represent the Supreme Absolute Truth and are used to sanctify acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity.
  • "Om": Used to initiate sacred acts, symbolizing the divine essence.
  • "Tat": Signifies performing actions without attachment to the fruits, dedicating them to the Supreme.
  • "Sat": Denotes eternal truth, goodness, and auspiciousness. It represents steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity.
• Actions performed without faith are considered "Asat"—they lack spiritual value and do not benefit the individual in this life or the next.

Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita emphasizes the importance of faith in determining the nature and outcome of one's actions. Krishna explains that all actions—whether sacrifice, austerity, or charity—should be performed with the right intention, adherence to scriptural injunctions, and, most importantly, with faith. The quality of faith, influenced by the three gunas, determines whether actions lead to spiritual elevation or bondage. By cultivating sattvic faith and avoiding actions driven by passion or ignorance, one can progress on the path of self-realization and attain union with the Supreme Divine.